Tshivenda kin-terms/naming and the building of peace
and identity in families and communities
Dr TM Sengani: Unisa African
Languages
Dr AC Tshivhase: Unisa
Curriculum and Learning
Development
Presentation plan
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Introduction
Ethnography of communication
Conceptual and theoretical framework
Grammaticalization of kinterms
Ethnography of Communication in relation to
particular speech community
• Outstanding roles of kins
• Discussions and conclusion
Introduction
• Setting of African families-identity
•Kin terms and its role
•Children’s upbringing-whole relationship
•Loosened family ties due to modernity
•Thesis/argument: building of authority , responsibility done in the context
of cultural traditions
•Use of kin terms valuable for building peace and identity in families and
communities
•Kin terms and identity, status and functional role with values
Ethnography and communication
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Ethnography of communication -Ethnography of speaking approach - relevant in the
understanding of language use within its context has been propounded Dell Hymes in
the 60’s. Link between Anthropology and Linguistics - relationship between language
and culture.
Ethnography approach and study of communicative activity- framework for collection
and analysis of descriptive data-social meaning is conveyed, constructive and
negotiated
The generalization focuses on what speaker need to know in order to communicate
appropriately and make sense of what has been communicated within a particular
speech community.
Consider what they say to who when and in what manner, they need also to learn to
know who they speak to in terms of their status and roles. This then calls for their
cultural and linguistic knowledge.
Speech community and kin-terms
Use of language within speech communities -cultural knowledge is learned and
shared.
What has been noted however has been that various kin-terms have always
identified people, their roles and status within communities including Vhavenda.
Conceptual and theoretical
grammaticalization
• Definition- attributing grammatical
character to autonomous word-Meillet
• Morphology of words
• Origins of study of grammar, history of
words- Hopper
Framework components
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De-categorisation
Persistence
Specialisation
Morphology
Syntax
Pragmatics
Grammatisation of kin terms- ethnography
of communication in relation to particular
speech community
• Kin terms in Venda: few examples
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Kin terms
Meaning Implication for traditions
Khotsimunene
Mmane
Makhadzi
Muduhulu
Mmemuhulu
Vhomakhulu
Mukwasha
Mudi
Mazwale
Mulungu
Current status
Outstanding roles of kins
• Mulungu/leader of a community or king/Thovhele or khosi
• Mulungu/ senior member in the family--khotsi/father…malume/uncle, mazwale/father-in-law.
• Khotsimunene/ father’s younger brother and mmane/mother’s
younger sister..biological or in terms of marriage…the
confidante of all the children in the family.
• Makhadzi/ chairperson in a family be it royal or not. Note that
every woman is a makhadzi or chairperson at the family at her
home..
• Mufumakadzi/ wife and mother, one who could be makhadzi
mmemuhulu or mmane, mazwale/ daughter-in-law. The
cornerstone and pillar of the family
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Discussions and conclusions
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The analysis of kin-terms in context of languages yields many results.
The deep analyses of kin-terms show the connection between historical
representation which make sense of the use of language in context.
Thus, in the contemporary reality we see the shift of use of kin-terms in
personal or community as no longer relevant and connected to the very
nature of tradition and authority. The use of kin-terms in tradition
context depended on what people saw historical as textual
interpretation relevant to the lifestyle. The passing of traditional
handlings of lifestyle were driven by displayed authority in families and
communities. Thus, there was a need to demonstrate that realities of
kin-terms were imperative in the development of communities and
family structures.
Discussion and conclusion ctd
• The thesis confirms that the use of kin-terms is valuable in
building peace and identity in the family structure and in the
communities. And to this end various kin-terms have been
presented which links kin-terms with authority.
• With ties in families loosened, relationships out of the rails, there
is a need to have a relook at how the wise people of old dealt
with traditions. In the first place kin-terms were not just titles of
identity, they had status and had functional values. These
members in the family or community had their duties set for
them and each knew what to do, how do deal with issues and
when to contact others.
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Levels of engagement with kin-terms, tradition
Practical
Conceptual
P e r c e p t u a l
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Emerging findings: traditions and kinterms
•Through awareness, talking, conversations,
consciousness raising, families/communities come
to see the relationship between kin-terms and ther
everyday lives
•Grammar – in context and out of context
•Kin-terms – in context and out of context
•Grammar and identity-helping to make sense of
family and community meaning
•Engagement with kin-terms and traditions oneself,
others, family, community.
Work in progress
• Complete the work and finalise as a
chapter
• Comments and input to assist
• Thanks you